Raphael slowly opened his eye, grumbling as he tried to wake himself. His big hands closed around the warm blankets in front of him, but there was no body there, just an empty spot slowly growing colder. "Jacquelyn?" He asked groggily as he pushed himself up to a seat. Finally looking around, the turtle discovered that the woman was no longer at his side. The blanket was now draped around him. Grumbling to himself, Raphael threw the blanket off and got to his feet. His body ached and his muscles were tight as he grabbed his weapons from the floor and shoved them back into his belt.

Stomping out to the kitchen Raph looked around and wasn't surprised to find all his brothers crowded around the kitchen table. Rubbing his temples he looked around the room. There were the four turtles but no humans. "Where is Jacquelyn?" He asked as he looked around.

Mikey looked over his shoulder. "It's about time you woke up dude. You've been asleep half the day!"

He looked over at the clock. It was two in the afternoon. His gaze flashed to Ant and he motioned with his head. The younger turtle got to his feet with his plate and followed Raph to the training room.

"What is going on? How long have I been sleeping?" Raph asked as soon as the other turtle had come into the room.

Antonello shrugged. "I don't know, I mean… I slept a bit later than I wanted to but, Mikey jumped on top of me this morning to wake me up. I probably could have slept longer." He took a bite of his pizza. "You have been passed out in Jack's room since we got back last night. What we did… I think really wiped us out."

"That doesn't tell me where Jack is. Does she know about last night?" Does she know what I did for her?

The younger turtle shook his head. "I don't know what she knows. She made us breakfast, put on some nice clothes and then left a little bit ago, once we were all fed."

Raph grunted and ran his hand over his face. "Did she say where she was going at least?"

He shook his head.

"Shit." He turned around and punched the heavy bag as hard as he could.

Jack straightened out the little polo shirt she was wearing as she stood out front of the little café on the corner of the street. Taking a deep breath she pulled open the door and walked inside. It smelled like coffee and muffins. There were a few people milling about, sitting with laptops and books at the small tables enjoying their warm beverages. Lucky for Jack, she still saw the 'Help Wanted' sign on the door when she walked in. Walking up to the counter she saw a young woman about her own age with wild dark hair that looked red in the right light. When Jack approached, pale brown eyes flicked up from the book she had splayed open on the counter.

She tried to casually slide the book to the side like she wasn't supposed to have it out. "Um… Hi. Can I help you?" She asked as she tucked a curly lock of her red hair behind her ear.

Jack smiled. "Hi, I um, applied for a job here a while back and got it. But uh…" She pulled the papers out of her back pocket. "I was in a car accident the next day. I was cooped up in bed for weeks and couldn't do much so I never made it in to my first day. I was wondering if I could talk to someone about if that position is still open?" She cringed a bit, already expecting the worse.

The girl blinked a few times. "Um… Let me go get the manager. One second."

A tall man with greying hair came out from the back and quirked a brow at her. It was the same guy that interviewed her the first time. He motioned her over to the table in the corner. Jack walked over and sat down with the man to talk about everything. It was interesting, discussing where she disappeared to and how she wanted to come and actually start working for them. After about a half hour they had things worked out, a rough schedule and pay and plan for her to come in for training tomorrow.

Standing, Jack shook his hand. "Thank you very much Mr. Jenson."

"No problem Jack. Just, avoid those car accidents between now and tomorrow, okay?"

She laughed. "Will do." Walking back over to the counter she caught the red head reading her book once more. Clearing her throat Jack smiled. "Excuse me. Hi, I'm Jack. I am starting here tomorrow. Mr. Jenson said I would be training with you so I just wanted to introduce myself." She held out her hand.

The other girl looked at her for a moment, Sticking her finger between the yellowing pages of the hardback book. Her other hand grasped Jack's. "Arionna." She said softly. "Welcome to the most boring job in the world."

She half chuckled, almost still kind of nervous. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Giving her a wave, Jack left the café and started walking back home. She stepped into the alley and when the coast was clear, crawled down into the man hole that led to the tunnel system that would take her to the place she called home. When she stepped inside, the woman was surprised to only see Antonello milling about in the living room.

"Hey Ant." She stuck her hands in her back pockets. "Where is everyone?" She glanced around.

The turtle was adjusting the straps on his arm guard when she walked in. He shrugged. "Mikey is training, Leo is mediating and Donnie is in his lab." He paused and blinked a few times. "Wow that doesn't sound like a giant cliché." He shook his head a chuckled.

"What about Raph?" Jack asked as she plopped down to a seat beside him.

He nodded. "Oh yeah, he went up to see Casey, just a few minutes ago actually."

Jack quirked a brow. "At this hour? But it's daylight…" She frowned. "What would he be going up there now for? It's dangerous…"

Casey pulled back the curtain on his fire escape window. He blinked in surprise when he saw his best friend shrouded in a trench coat and hat. Wrenching the window open Casey nearly dragged the turtle inside. "Dude! What the hell are you doing out at this hour?!"

Raph almost smiled as he straightened up and took off his disguise. "Sorry dude, I just needed to talk."

"You risked discovery to come over to talk?" The hockey player looked at him with a face of disbelief.

Raph fell into a seat on the sofa and watched the little black haired toddler wobble over and look up at him while sucking on his thumb. The turtle ruffled his hair before looking up at the boy's father. "Yeah, I really… I just… I think I am losing my mind."

Casey went to the fridge and grabbed a pair of beers, popping them open he handed one to Raph before he sat down. "Why is that?"

"Jacquelyn."

He took a swig. "What about her?"

Raphael sighed. "Have you ever gotten so distracted by someone that you can't do a single thing without them being there?"

Casey just quirked a brow.

"I just… I have tried to focus, tried to concentrate on other tings but I can't."

"So what, you like her. Big deal."

Raphael grunted. "Ya don't understand!" He said through gritted teeth. "I can't fall asleep without havin' her beside me. If I don't know she is safe, I can't rest. I'm trainin' her to fight but the actual thought of her fightin' scares the shit outta me!"

"Then why are you teaching her to fight dip shit? If you don't want her to then-"

"Because she has the potential ta be one of the best fighters I have ever seen!" Raphael looked at him. "She can move like none of us can! There are things that turtles can't do Case!"

The human ran a hand over his face and looked over at his son playing on the blanket spread out on the floor. "So why are you telling me all this? Why aren't you telling her?"

"Because how's a human ever gonna love some monster like me?!"

They both froze. Had he really just said love? Out loud?

Raphael shook his head. "It's bad enough that I know the world looks at me like a freak, but the thought of her looking at me like that." He put his hands on his head, his fingers digging into his scarred dome. "I can't bear the thought a her lookin' at me that way…. Of her hatin' me. She is the first person ta stick around long enough ta see past my anger, my fuckin' temper and not give a damn when I lose it!"

"Raph…Raph!" Casey put a hand on his arm. "Calm down you're scaring C.J." The toddler was whimpering in the corner. As soon as the turtle had taken enough deep breaths to not blow his top, Casey continued. "And ya know… Jack has been living with you guys for going on a year now. I'm pretty sure she has seen all your habits and downfalls. If she wasn't ready to handle them, I think she would have left by now."

"So what the hell am I supposed ta do?"

"Talk to her ya idiot! Stop talking to me and tell the woman how you feel!" Casey smacked him in the back of his head.

"Yeah because that'd go over so well…" Raph pushed himself up to his feet with an angry grunt. He resisted the urge to just punch something. "Things were so much easier before she was here…" He mumbled.

"But you were miserable." Casey looked up at his friend. "You are much happier with her here."

"Fuck! I know!" He ran his hands over his face. "I just…. I've messed everything else up! How am I not going to mess this up?"

Casey shrugged and got to his feet. "I don't know. But I wish you luck."

Raphael grabbed his coat and went to the window. "Damn, it's still light out. What was I thinking coming over here so early."

"Good question."

Raph shook his head and put his disguise on and climbed out the window. He had to scurry down the fire escape and make quick work to get back into the sewer. He hesitated before he pulled open the door to his home. Stepping inside he threw his coat aside and looked around. The living room was oddly empty, normally Mikey was always loafing around in there. Perhaps it was still the lack of television that had him actually getting into shape.

Walking through the house he heard noises coming from the training room and was surprised to find everyone in there. Everyone. All his brothers and Jack. Leo was behind Jack, moving her into a better defensive posture but all Raph could do was focus on his brother's hands as they touched Jack's waist and back, urging her body to move. He shook his head and took a deep breath before opening the door the whole way and stepping inside.

"Raph!" Jack looked up at him. Ignoring what Leo had just done she rushed over to him. "Where have you been all day! I was worried…"

He thought he caught a blush across her face, but it could have just been flushed from her workout. "I went to visit Casey." He said simply.

"At this hour?" She looked up at him a bit concerned as she brushed a drop of sweat off her forehead. "Isn't that dangerous?"

He nodded slowly. "Yeah…"

She reached out and smacked his arm before he continued. "Then why'd you go?" Her brow furrowed. "Look I know you don't like me doing stupid dangerous stuff… but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you guys do stupid stuff either. If you needed something from them, you could have just told me." Her tone lightened. "Maybe I should save up for a cell phone… that way I can call them and stuff. And you guys. With work…"

"Work?" Raph interrupted.

Jack blinked. "Yeah, that job I had tried to get a while ago… before… you know… well, I went in today and the position was still open so, I got the job, again." She shrugged.

Raph glared for a moment and then sighed. "Can we talk for a minute?" He asked, motioning out of the training room.

The other brothers paused. Mikey grinned and elbowed Ant as he looked at Raph, expecting something big and dramatic to be happening. Raph shot him a look before looking back down at Jack.

"Sure?" She shrugged and followed him out to the living room. Stopping by the fridge in the kitchen, the woman grabbed a bottle of water before looking at him. "I know you probably disapprove of the job but…"

"I do." Raph cut in. "And you don't need to waste money on a cell phone. "We have… well, when we were younger we called them shell cells. They are like cell phones, but they only call each other. The Jones's have one. Mona has one… If you are going to take this job I want you to take one with you, and your shobo." He ran his hand over his face. "I'm still not a fan of you being up there."

Jack sighed and went to the couch, falling into a seat she patted the cushion beside her and waited for him to sit beside her. "Raphael. I'll be fine. I've had job's in worse places. All I want to do is pull my weight around here. Besides, I doubt anyone is going to come hurt me while I am there, I mean in front of people?"

He looked down at her and pushed a sweat soaked piece of hair off her face. "I just don't want to think about you getting hurt again."

"I got a pretty good teacher." She nudged him. "I think I'll be good." She grinned.

"Jacquelyn, I'm serious!" He said a bit more forcefully. "Do you know what seeing you like that did to me?"

She paused, a bit surprised by his sudden concerned outburst. "Yeah… the holes in my bedroom walls make it pretty clear, you were pissed at Leo."

"No… well, yes I was. But It was more than that!" Raphael's eyes only held her gaze for a moment before he leaned down onto his elbows, resting on his knees. " I was so worried it was making me sick. I couldn't sleep. I wouldn't let anyone near you for some ridiculous fear that they might hurt you more… not even Donnie when he wanted to check on you." He closed his eye and hung his head.

The woman at his side shifted in her seat. "Raph…"

"I don't know what's wrong with me but I just… I can't stop thinking about you."

"Are you saying there is something wrong with me?"

His head snapped up. "What?" The question caught him completely off guard and now looking at her he knew it had been the wrong thing to say. There was a look of hurt on her face, he didn't like it. He had caused it and a sinking weight was dropping into his stomach and he couldn't stop it.

"Look I know I am not the greatest at all this fighting stuff, but I'm trying. And I'm sorry I seem to create more problems for you. I don't mean to get caught in these fights… So I'm sorry if I'm just becoming some big burden or a giant weight on your mind or whatever. I'll try to take better care of myself so you don't have to worry about stupid me." She jumped to her feet and turned to storm off.

Raph could see the tears already rolling down her cheeks. But no words would come as she rushed out of the room and slammed the door to her bedroom. "Fuck!" The turtle let out a rage filled snarl and punched the coffee table in front of him, breaking it in two. Hanging his head he got to his feet and looked down the hall towards Jack's room and then towards the training room, where all his brother's had stopped and peeked out the room. He turned his back on them and headed to the woman's room.

He gently knocked on her door. "Jack? Jacquelyn… please, open the door."

"Go away!" She said from inside.

"Please… don't shut me out. That's wasn't what I meant… Please, let me explain." He tried the door knob but it was locked.

Jack didn't say anything.

"Jacquelyn please… open the door."

He stood there knocking and pleading for a good ten minutes before he finally heard the small click of the door unlocking. It didn't open, but it was unlocked. Slowly he opened the door and stepped inside. The woman was sitting on the bed with her pillow in her lap, clinging to it like it was all she had left.

"Jacquelyn what I said, however you took it… that's not what I meant."

She sniffled a bit, still not looking up at him. "Yeah well it sounded like you said I was some big burden on you."

"No! Jack…." He grabbed the chair from the corner and pulled it up before her so he could sit. "That's not what I meant at all!" He reached a hand over and put it on her knee. "I… I think about you all the time, I worry about you, yes. That's all true. I don't mean it in a bad way… I don't think. I just don't know how to handle all the things I'm feeling." He hung his head, his hand still on her knee.

Wiping at her face, Jack looked over at him. "What you're feeling?"

He nodded. "You don't know how confused I have been ever since you have entered our lives…" He sighed. "How… much you make me feel that I didn't think was possible."

"Raph what are you talking about?"

"Jacquelyn, I think about you constantly, not in the way I think about my brothers; my family. And my thoughts… they aren't always rated G. It's hard to keep my mind from wondering when I sleep with you most nights." Both of their faces turned red but he continued. "I fear you getting hurt more than anyone. I'm willing to sacrifice anything to make sure you are okay." He closed his eye and took a deep breath. "I killed someone that was threatening you."

She gasped and scooted back away from him a bit. "Why… would you do that?"

"He was in charge of sending people after you. I didn't want you to get hurt." He couldn't look at her, he could already feel her trembling through the bed. She was scared… of him.

"But why kill him?" She whispered.

Finally Raphael looked at her. His eye found hers and held her teary gaze for a long moment. "I almost lost you once; I don't want to chance losing you again… I love you Jack."